1797-1798, published 1799

The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters (El sueño de la razon produce monstruos)

Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes

Spanish, 1746 - 1828

Often viewed as a self-portrait, this print conveys the struggle between reason and imagination that shaped Goya’s artistic vision. His contemporaries would have recognized the watchful lynx and ominous bats and owls that swarm around the sleeping artist as symbols of ignorance and evil.

Goya originally considered using this print as the introductory plate for Los Caprichos, but settled on the more traditional self-portrait. Ultimately published in the middle of the album, this print epitomizes the prevailing message of the series, a warning of what happens in the world when reason is absent.